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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - The Pentecostal Church in Fort Simpson has a pastor for the first time in three years.

Pastor Rick Reath delivered his first sermon at the church on Aug. 31.

Pastor Rick Reath, left, and his family of Andrew, Judy and Nathan have just started their ministry at the Pentecostal Church in Fort Simpson. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Reath and his wife Judy along with their two young children Andrew and Nathan moved to the village from Yellowknife where Reath had been living for the past 10 years.

Both the move and the job are a new experience for Reath.

"I'm a rookie as green as they come," he said.

The church is Reath's first ministry.

It's quite a change from his previous line of work, which was as an accountant with the territorial government, but Reath said this is something he's been drawn to for awhile.

"I've always felt this is something God wanted me to do," he said.

Reath grew up in the Pentecostal faith in southern Alberta near the town of Vulcan.

As a child he can remember pretending to be a pastor and using an upturned basket as his pulpit.

Reath said he realized it was finally time to act on his calling.

"I felt like it was time for me to go in the ministry and I also felt this was the place God wanted me to go," he said referring to Fort Simpson.

With a congregation size of between 15 and 20 people, Reath said the church in the village reminds him of the church he grew up in.

Now that they're in the village, Reath said he and his family are looking forward to getting active in the community. Judy, who is a teacher, plans to do some substitute teaching at the school.

As people become familiar with him, the church community will grow in time, said Reath.

As a way to facilitate this process the church will be holding family fun nights. The first event on Sept. 17 will include a family movie and maybe games, said Reath.

Everyone is also welcome to come to the church and check out the services which are held on Sundays at 6 p.m., he said.

Reath describes his sermons as less traditional Pentecostal and more interdenominational.

Anyone who just needs to talk to someone is welcome to call or come over for coffee, said Reath.

Having a pastor in the church is exciting for the congregation, said Nolan Swartzentruber, who led the church services for the past three years.

A full-time, dedicated pastor will have more time to minister and make connections with the community, said Swartzentruber.

"Especially in that kind of work it's so important," he said.